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Whenever we hear the name “Orange Crush” the speakers in our brain immediately began blaring the chorus “Follow me, don’t follow me! I’ve got my spine, I’ve got my Orange Crush!” With an appropriate tip of the hat to R.E.M., Orange Crush means something different to Murrieta, California’s Greg Allison. To Allison, Orange Crush is a love affair with an orange first-generation Camaro.
The paint color “Hugger Orange” first showed up in 1969 on the Camaro, Chevelle, Corvair and Nova vehicles. Despite being sprayed on most of Chevrolet’s popular sporty cars, the “Hugger Orange” paint code 72 will always be associated by musclecar fans to the single-year body design of the 1969 Camaro. The Camaro SS, with or without rally stripes, wrapped in orange is the iconic symbol for the 60s Camaro.
My future plans are the same as my current plans. To drive the car, a lot! – Greg Allison
Orange Crush at the 2009 Temecula Rod Run car show. Photo from Greg Allison.
Orange Crush was not the first 69 Camaro Allison owned. “My first Camaro was a 1969 RS that was ordered new by my Grandma. She gave it to me for my high school graduation in 1977,” he explained. “It was stolen one night in front of my house in Atlanta in 1979. Thirty days later, the insurance company was trying to offer me $2,000 for a settlement,” he continued.
Allison’s first Camaro was a 1969 RS that his Grandmother passed down to him upon his graduation from high school in 1977. It was his daily driver until 1984.
“On their advice, I went looking for a similar car and after five calls to used car lots, I discovered the stolen Camaro on a used lot on the south-side of Atlanta.” The car was recovered and ended up being his daily driver until 1984 when they reluctantly parted ways.
Through his travels in life, Allison passed through several states. From Ohio, Florida and Georgia, to name a few, but he never forgot the white Camaro that had meant so much to him. The gift from his Grandma. When the fire inside got too much to ignore, Allison sought out the perfect Camaro to fill that void – and that is where the Orange Crush Camaro enters the story.
Allison bought the Orange Crush Camaro to fill the void that had been created with the loss of his first Camaro.
“When I bought the car, it was 90 percent finished,” he claimed. Keeping much of the car stock, especially the interior, Allison planned on staying with an orange and black exterior theme.
Allison doesn’t do much of the work himself, “I don’t wrench,” but he certainly keeps things true to his vision. The most important part of the project is to use the car for what it was intended. “My future plans are the same as my current plans. To drive the car, a lot!”
The Camaro currently features an LS1 engine, but Allison plans on replacing it with an LS7 soon.
He has owned the car for eight-years, and currently drives it weekly, and shows it monthly at different events. “Orange Crush won an award at the Temecula Rod Run in 2009. That is what keeps me going,” added Allison, “I plan on doing a couple of upgrades like changing the LS1 out for a new LS7, and maybe do another Power Tour.”
The interior is mostly stock, but some creature comforts have found their way into the build. A satellite radio and Comfortweave seat covers are a welcomed addition.
Allison is a GM fanatic owning a 1967 Chevelle convertible and a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ.
“The thing I like most about this vintage custom is that it is turnkey and will drive anywhere getting 25-miles per gallon and it has XM radio.” Allison stated. “The thing I like least is the steering radius with the 18-inch rims.”
Allison is a true car guy, and it shows with his taste in cars. “I love all cars. If I were to place them in order, Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Plymouth, Dodge, Ford then all others.”
When it comes down to Orange Crush, all we can say is: “Follow me, don’t follow me.”
Follow me, don’t follow me.
Tech Specs:
- Owner: Greg Allison
- Car: 1969 Chevy Camaro SS
- Paint: Hugger Orange
- Body Mods: Electric hide-away head lamps. Mini tub. Welded frame with engine mounts straight out of a Corvette
- Interior: 98-percent stock with tilt wheel, Sirrus satellite radio, and three 6-inch x 9-inch Speakers. Vintage Air A/C and heating. Comfortweave seat covers
- Engine: LS1 with tuned-port headers and stock GM LS1 front drive system
- Transmission: T56 6-speed with Hurst shifter
- Suspension: Leaf springs have been replaced with Air Ride suspension and coil over adjustable shocks
- Brakes: 4-wheel disc with Baer front disc brakes. Wilwood portioning valve
- Rims and Tires: 18-inch Billet Specialties with Nitto NT 555 295/45/ZR18
- Driveline: Positraction rearend with 3.73:1 gearing. Custom made aluminum driveshaft
Enjoy this gallery of Orange Crush photos.
